William 'Bill' Dennis Thoren

William "Bill" Dennis Thoren passed away peacefully in his home of, as he might say, "being an old man", on the morning of August 5, 2026, in Thermopolis, Wyo.

Bill was born on March 5, 1935 in Shoshoni, Wyo., to Dennis Anton & Virginia "Fern" Owens Murchison Thoren. His early childhood was spent at the Quien Sabe Ranch North of Shoshoni with his parents. His mother passed away in 1940 and his father in 1942, at which time he went to live with his dad's mother, Elsie E. Thoren Scott and her husband James Scott. Bill attended schools in Shoshoni, graduating in 1953. He entered the University of Wyoming in 1953, graduating with a B.S. degree in Agriculture in 1957. In October 1957, Bill was inducted into the United States Army and began his military time at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. In June of 1958, Bill married Mary Frances Feighny Thoren in Alliance, Neb.

Bill attended radio communication school in Fort Sill, Okla., and was honorably released from active duty in August 1958 at Fort Knox, Ky. In 1959, he joined the University of Nevada extension service of agricultural county agents in Ely, Nev. In the fall of 1959, Bill and family returned to Nebraska where he became an employee of Great Western Sugar company for the next six years. Following, he transitioned to work as an agricultural loan mortgage representative for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Later, opportunities existed for Bill in commercial banking starting in Sterling, Colo., and ending 12 years later in Worland, Wyo., at the Stockgrowers State Bank.

In 1983 Bill, his wife Mary Frances and family took control of the family Quien Sabe Ranch operation in Fremont and Hot Springs Counties, Wyo. In addition to the ranching operation, Bill and family built their generational family home on Tough Creek at their Copper Mountain Ranch property. Bill's retirement life included mineral leasing for various oil & gas operators, spending ample time being a steward of nature, and enjoying his 14 grandchildren & 23 great grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his wife of 68 years, Fran; their 5 children, Tracey Van Heule, Alissa Bucher, Dan Thoren, Bruce Thoren, Scott Thoren and their families.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Francis Catholic Church in Thermopolis, Wyo. Rosary will be held on Friday, August 14, at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 15, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow. Cemetery services will be held on August 17 at 9 a.m. at the Shoshoni Cemetery.